Chapter 175
Tu Miaoling stared in shock, letting out a scream. At the same time, she felt a mix of fear and embarrassment, and these conflicting emotions gave her the urge to run away.
So she struggled to break free of her restraints and ran straight outside with her head down.
Tao Tao was caught off guard and never expected her to do this. In an instant, she managed to break free. With people coming and going, it was very difficult to catch her.
Seeing this, Leng Qiao rushed out, but Tao Tao grabbed her wrist and turned to look at her in confusion.
Tao Tao shook her head: "Never mind, I'll settle the score with her when I have time."
She truly hadn't expected that, after being told not to send the money to Qinglin, she had done so, but what was the result? She ended up coming to this gambling den to deliver the money.
If it were to pay off debts, she wouldn't be so angry, but Tu Miaoling came here to gamble! What's the difference between gambling here and throwing money away?
She felt she had had enough, and was utterly speechless at Tu Miaoling, but more than that, she felt disappointed in her.
And judging from how nimbly she ran just now, her foot recovered pretty quickly; she was gone in a flash.
Tao Tao walked over to the guards and said, "I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with your boss, Xie Ming."
The man glanced at her from head to toe, noticing that the fabric of her clothes was quite valuable and the jewelry she wore was exquisite and luxurious. He figured she must be a sucker, so he nodded and went upstairs.
"You wait."
A short while later, the man came downstairs and said, "Come on, let's go upstairs."
In the private room, Xie Ming sat at the table, sipping tea. He appeared calm and composed, but in reality, he was just putting on an act and drinking it like a guzzler.
"Master, the person has been brought."
He looked up and saw her scrutinizing gaze. Based on his years of experience, he could tell at a glance that her clothes were of extraordinary value and seemed to be of royal style.
So he quickly got up, put on a warm smile, and gestured for him to stand up.
"Please sit down, madam."
Tao Tao walked slowly forward and sat down opposite him with an air of nonchalance.
She thought to herself that Xie Ming didn't seem to recognize her. She hadn't changed much, had she? Or was it because he hadn't seen her for a long time and didn't recognize her at first glance?
That makes sense. I reckon they only remember the faces of those who owe them money, and once the debt is paid off, they don't need to remember them anymore.
He asked, "I wonder what kind of business you wish to discuss with Mr. Xie?"
"I'll be blunt, does Tu Miaoling owe you money?" She was so angry about what had just happened that she didn't want to beat around the bush.
Xie Ming paused for a moment, then frowned in confusion and replied, "This woman owes my gambling den a lot of money. I originally thought she came today to pay it back, but I didn't expect her to be here with a gambler's mentality."
"The result was predictable. Heaven was not on her side. With interest and the money she lost today, she now owes me a full four hundred taels of silver."
He snorted repeatedly, but remained calm and composed in the face of such a large debt.
Those of us in this line of work have seen it all. We're not afraid she won't pay back; we're afraid she won't lend us the money. We only make money if she lends it; otherwise, where will the interest come from?
Hearing this, she sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. The debt was only getting bigger and bigger. She should have known better than to give her even those few dozen taels.
"Who is this young lady to her? Could she be here to pay off her debts?"
"Of course not, I was just asking casually."
After saying that, she took the purse from her waist and threw it on the table with a heavy thud.
Xie Ming's eyes lit up when he saw the silver on the table, revealing a clear look of greed. He hesitated for a moment, then frowned and asked in confusion, "What do you mean by this, young lady? Isn't this to pay off her debts?"
Tao Tao frowned and said coldly, "I already said no, I just want to ask you some questions."
Upon hearing this, he reached out and took the silver from the table. It was heavy. He was surprised that she was so generous after just asking a few questions. This young lady was truly remarkable.
"Young lady, please feel free to ask. I will answer all your questions to the best of my knowledge."
Her gaze was calm as she looked up at the bustling scene outside the window and said in a low voice, "Do you know Qing Lin from Chu Feng Pavilion?"
"Isn't that the top courtesan at Chu Feng Pavilion? I know him, but I wouldn't say I know him. Although he's good-looking, I'm not into homosexuality, what a waste of such a face."
He clicked his tongue, looking rather regretful.
"How can you say you're not familiar with each other?"
"Haha, I'd love to..."
"Do you know Wan Guirong? I heard you two have been friends for over ten years. You run a gambling den, and he runs a loan business. You've worked together to cheat one person after another, making a fortune. Is that right or wrong?"
Xie Ming's face grew increasingly grim as he listened, his dark eyes fixed on her. After a moment of silence, he said, "Young lady, you jest. We're just doing business honestly, how could we be cheating you?"
Tao Tao turned to look at him, a smile curving her lips: "Ah, didn't you know? Your good brother betrayed you a long time ago, he told me everything."
His face suddenly darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Who exactly are you? I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, or you'll find it hard to walk at night."
She didn't take his threats seriously at all, and even scoffed at them.
In contrast, Leng Qiao, who was standing behind her, frowned and looked at Xie Ming with icy eyes. Suddenly, she heard the sound of fingers tapping on the table. She flashed past him and grabbed his neck.
Xie Ming's face immediately turned red, his eyes bulged out from being squeezed and instantly filled with bloodshot veins. He made terrified hoarse sounds as his chubby white fingers desperately clung to the hand that was choking his neck.
He looked at Tao Tao sitting beside him with disbelief and pleading.
Tao Tao lifted her eyelids and lazily looked over, a hint of surprise on her soft, white face. She rested her chin on her hand and said in a playful voice, "Look at the way you stick your tongue out, you really look like a toad."
"Mr. Xie, do you still remember me?"
Her smiling face was innocent and harmless, like a carefree noblewoman, but he vaguely felt a sense of familiarity about her.
She reached out and twirled a strand of hair from her temple into it, tilting her head as he looked her over.
Suddenly, Xie Ming's eyes widened in shock, and he pointed at her, his hand trembling: "You...you..."
Unable to speak, Tao Tao knew what he wanted to say. She stood up and stared at him: "It's been a long time. I never expected that when we meet again, our positions would be reversed."
Just as he was about to collapse, she slowly raised her hand. Leng Qiao immediately let go, and Xie Ming collapsed to the ground, clutching his neck, breathing heavily and coughing, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.
It sounds awful.
He thought she was some noble lady, but it turns out... she was just a merchant's daughter who worked in the unlucky business of funerals!
How dare she lay a hand on him on his turf?! Has this merchant's daughter gone mad?!
"Cough cough cough... cough cough... Tao, Tao Tao!"
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